Palmer Township bank robber runs off with $860

A man wearing a Metallica T-shirt and carrying a semiautomatic handgun robbed the Wachovia Bank branch of $860 in Palmer Township on this afternoon, police said.

The robber, about 30 to 40 years old, walked into the bank at 3840 Freemansburg Avenue about 4:50 p.m. and gave the tellers an ATM envelope for the cash, township Sgt. Tom Cardell said.

The robber left with $860 in $20 bills, Cardell said.

No one was hurt, and no customers were in the bank at the time, he said. Detectives are investigating the robbery late tonight.

Cardell said the robber, who was carrying a black pistol, had a medium build, a coarse beard and what might have been acne scars on his face. He wore a black T-shirt with the word Metallica on the front. He also wore dark pants.

Township police hope to make surveillance video available Wednesday.

Cardell said he was not sure whether the robber demanded money out loud or wrote a note on the ATM envelope.

After the heist, the robber ran south on foot toward Tamarack Path. Police did not know if he then took a car to flee.